Recommended Bow - Noobie

[gropaga]

I am looking for a bow to take Deer/Elk hunting for the next calendar year. I have only shot recurve bows as a kid. What I have read states that beginners should look for lower draw weights to get used to the bow, but you will need a high draw weight to kill game.

Is it possible to get an adjustable bow?

[theleo]

I'm guessing you're talking about compounds. All compounds I've seen will be adjustable in a 10 pound range i.e a 70 pound bow can have the limbs let down to 60, a 60 pound bow down to 50. As far as what bow to recommend you, the group would need to know your age (are you a young hunter still growing?), wing span, and how much you are looking to spend.

[gropaga]

Age: 30
Wing span: 5' 10"
Looking to spend: No more than 500$, flexible here.

[h20hunter]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,185401.msg2456864/topicseen.html#new

[Elkrunner]

Age: 30
Wing span: 5' 10"
Looking to spend: No more than 500$, flexible here.

Go to a good bow shop and have them measure your true draw length.     It will not do you any good to shop for a compound bow until you know that. 

[gropaga]

Ok thanks. I'll go get my draw length measured.

[Elkrunner]

That way you can start looking at things.  with that budget you should be able to find a decent used bow.

[pianoman9701]

Age: 30
Wing span: 5' 10"
Looking to spend: No more than 500$, flexible here.

Go to a good bow shop and have them measure your true draw length.     It will not do you any good to shop for a compound bow until you know that. 

  Develop a relationship with that bow shop. This helps immensely with problems that pop up just before or during the season. The shop I use always puts me at the front of the line in an emergency. But, I also buy all my stuff there and bring new shooters in. It goes both ways.

[Elkrunner]

Age: 30
Wing span: 5' 10"
Looking to spend: No more than 500$, flexible here.

Go to a good bow shop and have them measure your true draw length.     It will not do you any good to shop for a compound bow until you know that. 

Good point...I do the same. 
  Develop a relationship with that bow shop. This helps immensely with problems that pop up just before or during the season. The shop I use always puts me at the front of the line in an emergency. But, I also buy all my stuff there and bring new shooters in. It goes both ways.

[WAnoob]

Following this thread as well.  I am a fairly strong person and work out quite regularly.  Would you recommended buying a 60lb peak draw weight and practice at 50lbs for a newbie?  Or should I stick with 50lbs max and practice at 40lbs. 

[Elkrunner]

there shouldn't be any reason that you can't do a 60-70lb bow.  They typically have a 80percent let off.  I have my bow set at 63 which is where I feel comfortable.  Also you want to practice at what you hunt with.  Anytime you change it you will need to redo your sights

[kjbecker82]

Also, try out a bunch of bows at the shop after you are measured. When I bought my first compound bow I probably tested out 10 different bow's until I found one that fit me right. It's a weird thing...when you find a bow that's just "the one". I have a Monster Chill R and love it...but my brother-in-law has an Elite. He loves his and hates shooting the Monster, but I hate shooting his and love mine. It's just personal preference. Once you get your measurements, as others have said, find a good bow shop and start test driving some things. Good luck!!

[WAnoob]

Also, try out a bunch of bows at the shop after you are measured. When I bought my first compound bow I probably tested out 10 different bow's until I found one that fit me right. It's a weird thing...when you find a bow that's just "the one". I have a Monster Chill R and love it...but my brother-in-law has an Elite. He loves his and hates shooting the Monster, but I hate shooting his and love mine. It's just personal preference. Once you get your measurements, as others have said, find a good bow shop and start test driving some things. Good luck!!

I plan on doing this in a couple weeks when I am not working anymore and I get break from school.  Just don't have the free time to hang out in a pro shop for awhile.

[Miles]

Before you get too set on a draw weight go pull some bows back.  You need to know what you can pull comfortably then you can always work up.    I've seen a guy that lifts 5 days a week struggle to pull back my bowtech with an 80lb draw weight.  I almost couldn't believe it...

[RadSav]

Age: 30
Wing span: 5' 10"
Looking to spend: No more than 500$, flexible here.

Is that budget for the complete set-up or just for the bow?

You will be looking for a 28" draw length, more than likely.  Most bows these days have adjustable draw length as well as adjustable draw weight.  I wouldn't worry too much about getting into a wiener measuring poundage right away.  50-60# should serve you just fine.  And then if you really take to liking the sport you can use that as a reason to upgrade later, if you so chose.  With today's performance bows, even in the economy offerings 60# will do everything you want.  And usually you shoot that poundage better too!

Bear Archery has two new bows in the economy range for 2016.  Both fantastic for the money invested!!  Either the Marshal or the Wild would be great purchases if that budget is limited to a complete package.  The Wild is priced crazy at $299 MSRP!  I've even thought of shooting it myself just to make a statement on how good these economy priced bows are these days.  They might not be as pretty or as fast as the headliner bows.  But they certainly are not $700-1000 slower!  And often, as is the case with the Wild, they are super easy to tune and shoot!  Much easier to shoot than most of the speed racers.